Welcome back to Word Nerd Wednesday! Today’s word story is about a delightful older gentleman named Mr. Rutherford.

Mr. Rutherford is a kind soul, polite and respectful. From his clothes to his demeanor, he is a full-fledged gentleman. He’s enjoying his retirement, spending his time reading and visiting nearby attractions that he didn’t have time to see before. Today he’s visiting a local art museum, appreciating a range of works from masters and emerging talent.

Suddenly, there’s a commotion in a corner of the museum. A younger man is moving quickly through the space. He sees Mr. Rutherford and a woman nearby.

“Go, lady! Exit, gent! Now!” he urges, just before pulling the fire alarm to evacuate the building. It turns out there’s a gas leak in the museum. (Don’t worry, emergency services arrive quickly, and no people or works of art are harmed.)

“Exit, gent!” = exigent (ECK-sih-gent), meaning urgent or needing immediate attention. Exigent circumstances are ones that require quick thinking and decisive action, like what the younger man in the museum demonstrated. These situations can be remarkably revealing, showing you who can handle a crisis.

Having been in a few emergency situations, I can tell you, you never know exactly who will keep their cool. It may surprise you who steps up when there’s a need, who thinks and reacts quickly, shouldering the burden of helping other people. Maybe that person is you. Maybe it’s someone you know.

Exigent situations are like a flashbulb moment. When that bright light goes off, it blinds some people and spurs others into action. I think we can all be grateful for the people who are equipped to handle exigent situations. This world will always need them.